Minestrone

My mother-in-law passed this on to me many years ago, clipped from some magazine or another. An old standby.

½ c olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 tsp chopped parsley
1 9 oz can tomato paste
10 oz beef broth
9 cups water
1 cup chopped cabbage
2 carrots, thinly sliced
2 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1/8 tsp sage
1 1lb can kidney beans
1 large zucchini, thinly sliced
1 cup frozen or canned peas or green beans
1 cup elbow macaroni

Heat oil in large pot. Add garlic, onion, celery and parsley; cook until soft. Stir in tomato paste and next 7 ingredients. Mix well, bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer slowly 1 hour. Add remaining ingredients. Cook until pasta is cooked, 10 -15 minutes. Serve piping hot. Makes 8 generous servings.